Join us at the Social License to Operate Conference

16 September 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia

"Responsible Mineral Exploration"

The Geological Survey of Estonia (EGT) is organizing through the EU-funded Horizon Europe twinning project EGT-TWINN a conference dedicated to Social License to Operate 16 September 2025 at the Hestia Hotel Europa in Tallinn, Estonia. 

Mineral exploration often takes place on private lands, which can arouse curiosity and suspicion among landowners and local communities. This initial phase of exploration marks the first point of contact between a company and the community, making it crucial for building a positive relationship. Establishing good relations is key to gaining access to land for exploration. Active communication and engagement from the outset can help alleviate suspicions and lay the sustainable groundwork for dialogue and collaboration. 

Mineral exploration projects must be carefully planned, prepared, and executed taking the local context and communities into account. The conditions during the exploration phase can influence subsequent stages of the project. Evaluating mineral exploration through sustainability criteria, such as those developed by the Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining, is essential. Additionally, the state and its authorities play a significant role in ensuring sustainable exploration practices and avoiding conflicts as part of effective mineral governance. 

This conference will offer a platform for various stakeholders (e.g., EGT, companies, authorities, universities, and consultancy firms) to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop strategies for sustainable mineral exploration. 

Building on experience

The SLO conference builds upon the experience from the previous highly successful Critical Raw Materials conference, with an attendance of 100 participants onsite and 50 online.

The SLO conference is co-organized by the Geological Survey of Finland and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

Organizing Committee

Juha Kaija (Geological Survey of Finland)
Toni Eerola (Geological Survey of Finland)
Erki Peegel (Geological Survey of Estonia)
Kairi Põldsaar (Geological Survey of Estonia)
Heikki Bauert (Geological Survey of Estonia)
Florian Smit (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland)

This conference is organized within the EGT-TWINN project, an international geological research cooperation for Estonia's green transition between EGT, GTK, GEUS, BGS, University of Oulu. Funded through the Horizon Europe program.

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For questions about the conference please contact Toni Eerola (GTK) or Juha Kaija (GTK)